“Stay ahead with the fantasy football week 4 injury report. Key player updates, timelines, and insights to guide your lineup decisions.”
Injuries shape fantasy football more than any draft board ever will. Every week, the difference between victory and defeat comes down to who is active, who is sidelined, and who is playing through pain. The fantasy football Week 4 injury report carries major implications across both IDP and traditional formats, with stars ruled out, others trending back, and some caught in uncertain timelines. To keep lineups sharp, this breakdown delivers the latest outlooks and practical context so you can manage rosters with clarity and confidence.
More Top NFL Fantasy Football IDP Advice!
Method And IDP focus
My approach centers on defensive injuries first, because IDP lineups swing on real availability. I keep the lens on who is out, who is trending in, and who carries risk. I also include quick medical context when it genuinely clarifies timelines. It is Friday, which means enough practice data exists to separate optimism from actionable information. Use this fantasy football Week 4 injury report to plan waivers, streamers, and start-sit calls.
Nick Bosa‘s Season Is Over
Nick Bosa suffered an ACL tear and will miss the rest of the season. Return timelines for this injury generally range from ten to twelve months. A clean ACL reconstruction can trend closer to ten months, while added damage, like MCL involvement or nerve issues, can push recovery toward a year.
Bosa could not return to the game after the injury. Surgical reconstruction is required for a complete tear. This development reshapes San Francisco’s edge rotation and removes an elite IDP option for 2024.
Quincy Williams On Short-Term IR
The Jets placed linebacker Quincy Williams on short-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Details are limited by design, which keeps projections cautious. Short-term IR mandates a minimum of four weeks missed, and bye weeks are part of that math.
The expectation remains that Quincy William returns at some point this season. Whether that lands near Week 9 or closer to Weeks 14-15 will determine fantasy relevance. For now, this fantasy football week 4 injury report treats him as an absence through the required window.
Alex Highsmith’s High Ankle Sprain, Plus What It Means
Alex Highsmith has been ruled out early this week. This is week two post-injury, and even mild high ankle sprains often require four to six weeks for full recovery. Pittsburgh did not place him on IR, which leaves open a possible next-week return, but that is not guaranteed.
Highsmith has not practiced, including Thursday. A high ankle sprain involves the syndesmosis between the tibia and fibula rather than the typical rolled ankle. The structure is harder to injure, which means a longer healing curve. Worse cases can include a fibula fracture and stretch into two or three months. Build in patience before trusting him again.
Kenny Moore’s Calf Strain
Kenny Moore is dealing with a calf strain, most commonly the gastrocnemius. Injury grades range from mild to complete tear. This situation aligns with a low-grade two or high-grade one profile. The expected absence is two to three weeks, and Moore is out this week.
Indianapolis has delivered top-ten defensive play, so losing the starting slot corner matters. A veteran signing offers a stopgap, but that does not automatically translate into waiver wire urgency. This fantasy football week 4 injury report views Moore as a short mid-range hold if you have bench room.
Cowboys Cornerbacks Trending In
Daron Bland returned to limited participation on Wednesday and logged a full practice Thursday. Blan missed two games after a practice foot injury following Week 1. Full activity points toward availability.
Trevon Diggs did not practice Wednesday after exiting last week’s game, then surprised with a full practice Thursday despite a background of knee cartilage issues. A full Thursday for both corners typically signals a very strong chance to play. Dallas has ranked worst against the pass by yardage allowed. Getting starters back should help, even if it does not fix everything immediately.
Derek Stingley Jr., Oblique Strain
Derek Stingley Jr. sustained an oblique injury. These are side abdominal muscles that handle rotation, turning, cutting, and sudden pivots. He has logged two straight did-not-practices this week and carries a day-to-day label.
Given the aggravation risk, sitting this week makes sense. The expectation is not long-term. This fantasy football week 4 injury report anticipates a near-term return, potentially next week or the one after, provided practice traction shows up.
Will Harris, Fibula Fracture
Will Harris fractured the fibula, the smaller of the two lower-leg bones. Bones demand time. Typical healing ranges push toward two to three months, and there is little the staff can safely accelerate.
Harris is out indefinitely. A late-season return remains possible if circumstances break right, but rust would be inevitable. For IDP purposes, dropping Harris for immediate help aligns with this week’s roster math.
Neck-Injury Vigilance: Justin Madubuike and Andrew Van Ginkel
Neck issues deserve caution because the area stacks spine, nerves, arteries, and tight musculature. Justin Mataboukay remains out after missing last week, with no practice for two weeks. The head coach’s lack of concrete updates reads ominous. The team has avoided IR, which preserves hope, but confidence for next week stays low.
Andrew Van Gekko is also managing a neck injury. Clarity on whether this is a stinger or muscular irritation is lacking. He has two straight did-not-practice. Van Gekko played eight snaps last week and produced two sacks, but that usage suggests he was not healthy. With travel to Dublin, I expect an absence or a very limited pass-rush-only role. Have a backup ready.
Christian Gonzalez Trending Up
Christian Gonzalez is working back from a hamstring strain. This is not a full tear. A preseason injury and a setback delayed the initial timeline. Hamstrings often feel better before they are truly ready, which drives re-injury rates in early returns.
Gonzalez was close to playing last week before a prudent holdout. Two straight limited practices this week indicate progress. A full Friday session would signal a green light. I currently place the chance to play around sixty-five percent, rising into the nineties with a full practice. If active, Gonzalez can clamp the opposing top receiver. The opponent’s offense has lacked punch, and the offensive line has two starters on injured reserve.
Nolan Smith’s Triceps Setback
Nolan Smith tore the triceps tendon in the Super Bowl, required surgery, and still played that day. Typical recovery runs four to six months. Smith has now re-injured the same triceps and landed on injured reserve for at least four weeks.
This is concerning because line-of-scrimmage play demands forceful extension and violent hand fighting. I expect a longer runway, closer to six weeks, possibly post-bye around Week 10 or 11. The defensive line thrives on rotation, and recent depth losses tighten the margin. The team will need to sort out snaps while Smith heals.
Offensive Quick Hits Part 1
CeeDee Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain and is out at least three weeks. Even mild versions usually require four to six weeks to reach one hundred percent. Reports about playing next week or avoiding IR do not change the biology.
Mike Evans has a hamstring strain and will miss this week. Expect two to three weeks on the shelf, with the third week serving as a testing window. Pushing too soon risks a setback, just like the hamstring patterns discussed earlier in this fantasy football week 4 injury report.
Offensive Quick Hits Part 2
Terry McLaurin has two straight did-not-practices due to a quad strain. Differing medical opinions, including considerations about surgery, underline the severity. I see a very low chance of playing. If active, I still would not trust the range of motion and power required for peak performance.
Justin Fields returned from a concussion with a full practice today. Expect him on the field Monday night. It is wheels up against a bad Dolphins defense. This is the kind of clearance that unlocks lineup confidence.
Offensive Quick Hits Part 3
Brandon Aiyuk carries an ACL tear with MCL involvement and possible nerve damage. The general manager said Aiyuk is not close to returning. I had already been fading near-term expectations, and the timeline now looks even longer. Week 10 once felt like the earliest credible target for meaningful production. Pushing toward Week 12 or beyond makes more sense now.
Tristan Wirfs logged his first full practice of the season and is expected to play. Chris Godwin had his first full practice yesterday, then a planned rest day as part of a ramp-up program. The expectation is that both play Sunday against the Eagles, which the roster absolutely needs with other absences.
Offensive Quick Hits Part 4
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams has a hamstring issue. Adams missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. The coach called it minor and indicated Adams should still be out there Sunday. Two straight missed practices introduce mild concern, even though Adams finished the previous game.
Finishing a game after an in-game tweak usually leads to availability the next week. Hamstrings remain tricky, so the smartest plan balances readiness with re-injury risk. This fantasy football week 4 injury report will always err on the side of sustainable health over one-week heroics.
Thank you for reading this article from @IDP_Plus. This article was crafted with insights from the original podcast hosts, supported by AI tools, and shaped by our staff. For the full discussion and even more great content, be sure to check out the episode on YouTube. Follow the host @TheDegenDoc on the X!!
